2018 HC The Light in His Soul: Lessons from My Brother's Schizophrenia by Schaper, Rebecca; Jones, Gerald Everett

Call Richmond, Jr. went missing. Twenty years later he showed up on a family member's doorstep. He was homeless, broken, and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. For the next fourteen years, his sister Rebecca took on the struggle to restore him as they faced the dark traumas and painful memories of their past. The Light in His Soul: Lessons from My Brother's Schizophrenia is her intimate memoir of helping Call as she learns that his extraordinary gifts are helping heal her and her family. Both Call and Rebecca bring light to the dark shadows of their past.The book recaps the story of the award-winning documentary film A Sister's Call, supplemented by Rebecca's insights about the soul contract she has with her brother.

"The power of this memoir lies in the way it demystifies mental health issues by examining them from a deeply personal perspective. Individuals and families facing similar experiences will certainly find solace from it... A moving, passionate, personal narrative of trauma and healing." --Kirkus Reviews
"This delightful story is a must-read for anyone who loves another soul living with mental health issues. Rebecca shows us that the wonderful parts are still there, such as genuine love, humor, compassion and deep spirituality even when hidden by the illness. Recovery really can happen. Read this story and leave with hope! -- Jim Hayes, mental health advocate, National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of South Carolina Board President, and Board member NAMI National Board of Directors
"To fully understand compassion, commitment, and caregiving, this is the book!" --Mercedes Maharis, filmmaker, The Hole, Cochise County USA: Cries from the Border, and Defeating Bishamon
"This is a compelling story of love and recovery between a brother with a serious mental illness and the sister who is passionate to help him. They take you to the heart of their struggle through sadness, heartbreak, humor and joy. If you have a loved one struggling with mental illness, this is required reading. Rebecca and Call's journey to healing will inspire you." --Cathy Gantt Cook, BS CCII, Clinical Counselor 
 "The Light in His Soul is a beautiful masterpiece that will open your heart, expand your awareness and present you with the opportunity to explore the power of your own soul. Rebecca Schaper takes readers on a brilliant and vulnerable journey through pain, sadness and suffering to acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. Her deep wisdom and profound lessons will open your heart to find your own freedom, joy and love. An essential book for anyone who dares to see the miraculous gift life presents us in our struggles, obstacles, and most difficult moments." --Sara Landon, globally celebrated transformational leader, visionary entrepreneur and spiritual teacher
 
"Every story that humanizes us folks who have been 'diagnosed' is important. Stories that shape us as gifts to the human tribe and the world -- not just broken liabilities -- are vital. Call and Rebecca's story opens big spaces for forgiveness, healing,and hope.  --Kevin A.Hall Author, Black Sails White Rabbits and the upcoming Portrait of the Artist Formerly Known As Bipolar 
 
 "The Light in His Soul:  Lessons from My Brother's Schizophrenia is more than just an unusually articulate description of the experience of living in world in which one cannot tell reality from hallucinations. This well-written book also quite effectively describes the long-reaching effects of child sexual abuse, growing up with a mentally ill parent, and being a survivor of a family member who dies by suicide. Most importantly, this book offers hope through its description of the road to healing for all involved." --Anita Schlank, Ph.D., ABPP, Forensic Clinical Psychologist, Editor, The Sexual Predator book series
 
"The writer offers an understanding of the struggle many families experience as they work to provide love and support for their family member diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.  Her lovingkindness supported her brother through some very challenging episodes of relapse and throughout those periods she had support from other family members.  Her experience helps other families understand the ongoing tasks of loving and protecting those vulnerable sons or fathers or mothers and others attempting to create alife worth living" --Susan T. Lindau, LCSW, Adjunct Associate Professor, USC 

"Belief, endurance, and finding an underlying joy andpurpose in even the most cruel of adversities lies at the heart of TheLight in His Soul. Where othermemoirs and similar-sounding accounts focus on darkness and survival againstall odds, Schaper's story takes the extra step to uncover riches,understanding, learning experiences and life-affirming joy against all odds;and this is what makes The Light in His Soul a unique story worth pursuing." --Midwest Book Review